The recommended treatment for ongoing pregnancy following medical abortion is usually suction curettage. Limited published data demonstrate that additional misoprostol can successfully terminate ongoing pregnancy, but there is no published literature on the repeat use of a combined mifepristone-misoprostol regimen.

This randomized placebo-controlled trial seeks to assess the effectiveness of a repeat course of 200 mg mifepristone and 800 mcg buccal misoprostol as compared to two doses of 800 mcg buccal misoprostol for ongoing pregnancy. Findings may reveal alternatives to suction curettage, which could be important for women who seek to avoid surgical intervention and for clinical settings where suction curettage is not feasible.

A qualitative component will evaluate the demand for and acceptability to women of repeating medical abortion after a failed attempt and of the two regimens of medical treatment for ongoing pregnancy.